Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-15
THE WEEK or PRAYER.
Services Mt the Y. VI. &. A. Hall Last
Night.

An audience Of some two hundred and
fifty persons assembled in the hall OF the
Young Mems Christian Association
building at 8 o'clock last night. The
services were opened with hymn sung
by O chorus of amateurs--ladies and gen
tlemen-who had volunteered for the oc-
casion. There were to have been fifty
singers, but the greater part failed to
appear owing TO the badness of the wea-
thcr. The singing was conducted by
Mr.. r. 5. NJ. Valentine, and the piano
accompaniment was played by Mr.. NJ.
l.. Willis.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. L. A.
Cutler.
Rev. ". +. Evans then read part of
the tenth chapter of St Lukes Gospel
the parable OF the Good Samaritan.
Mr.. Leftwich and lady sang the
hymn beginning My Faith Looks Up
TO Thee
Rev. w +. Evans of the Park-Place
Methodist church, who had been invited
to be the orator Of the evening, then pro-
ceeded TO deliver an eloquent address on
the subject Sam ! My Brothers
Keeper" He said that every man un-
der the blue canopy of Heaven IS
indissolubly connected with every
other in a physiological sense and
by the bonds of sorrow and suffering,
and the whole world has been gathered
into that great brotherhood of sorrow
There is the great brotherhood of sin.
We are all sinners and members of the
great brotherhood of sinners. God hath
included us AL under sin. None can
point the finger of scorn at another and
say "ThOu art a great sinner" He re-
lated an anecdote of Mr.. Moody on
visit to a prison touching one of the
prisoners on the shoulder and calling
him brother" The mans heart
was stirred to ITS inmost depths. He
said "Sir, you are the first man
that ever called me brother. y
These are the tender, precious ties OF
grace, the manifestation Of the love and
favor of God, which binds nations and
communities together in the great
brotherhood of grace. We pass man
on the street and say to ourselves ;
"Poor devil, you are going down to the
depths of eternal misery" and yet IN
that mans breast beats heart susceptl-
BILE of the keenest emotions of Joy and
sorrow, and every feeling that tends to
draw men together in nOnecommOn family.
He cited the prophet who told the
King of Israel the anecdote Of the man
who had intrusted his fellow-soldier in
the battle with a prisoner telling him
that his life should be held responsible
for the safe keeping of the prisoner. In
the same way We shall be held response
ble for the exertion OF our own powers
10 reclaim cur lost fellOw-men and to
protect those who are falling into danger
from evil habits or evil associates. We
are continually inquiring after the
physical condition and welfare OF
our fellow-men. How much nobler
is it to inquire after their spirit
ual condition How is your soul
Andrew on being introduced to our
/ Saviour Immediately went off and found
his brother Simon and brought him to
Jesus. When Jesus had found Philip
| the latter instantly went and informed
/ Nathaniel "We have found the Mes
siah" The first Disciples all seemed to
have felt the irresistible impulse to i'm
part to others the knowledge of the glad
Ildngs of Salvation which they had just
received. We are all responsible for
our brothers blood. If we have
failed to employ our influence
to turn an erring brother from
/ his ruin his blood will be on our own
head. Shall it be said of us that while
we were busy with our own schemes Of
/ business or pleasure some brother has,
/ for want of admonition on our part,
gone down to eternal perdition 1t is
an awful thing to have responsibility
laid upon us it is glorious thing 10
have grace to meet those responsible
/ ties. 1t will be "A terrible thing to have
/ the torture of mind come upon us Of
having been the passive cause OF the
eternal ruin OF an immortal soul.
Rev. DR.. Hoge then led III prayer.
Mr.. Charles l.. Thomas, the secretary
of the association, announced that the
meeting tonight would be addressed by
the Rev. DR.. Kerr, of the First Presby
terian church, and he urged all who were
present to come and to bring each a
Young man with him. as that is the
class the association is trying to reach.
The beuediction was pronounced by
/ Rev. l.. A. Cutler.